Britain could see traffic-light system to release country from lockdown, scientific documents reveal

Natasha Clark

5 May 2020, 15:37

Updated: 5 May 2020, 15:38

Natasha Clark

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BRITAIN could have a traffic-light system in place to ease the countrywide lockdown, scientific documents revealed today.

Data from the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies released today showed that any measures should be released gradually.⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates on Covid-19

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Boris Johnson could use a traffic light system to ease Britain out of lockdown

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And as The Sun revealed last month, a red, yellow and green system is on the cards and could form the basis of a fresh public health campaign.

The SAGE documents said: "Methods that have been used successfully for helping people understand how to implement other behaviour changes (such as healthy eating) include providing a ‘traffic light’ list of examples of high (avoid), medium (do rarely and carefully) and low (do freely) risk activities and ‘modelling’ stories describing how other people like themselves in similar situations have overcome barriers to implement guidance successfully."

It said that extending public heath campaigns with "in-depth" guidance and support could gradually help Brits to exit the lockdown.

The "green phase" could include things like going for exercise, going back to school, to the shops, and to work.

Amber might be seeing friends or family - but only in small groups and infrequently.

And red would be things that are still shut down or not advised - such as large group activities, going to pubs and bars, or flocking to crowded spaces.

However, it was not specific on which measures we might see - and when.

The traffic light system would help Brits see easily what measures they can do freely, and which ones they should take more caution in.

Ministers have repeatedly said measures would only be lifted gradually, and others may take weeks or even months to change.

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The traffic light system is currently used in food messaging to put Brits off buying fatty ready meals and encourage them to buy healthy ones with a 'green' logo on instead.

Boris Johnson is due to set out his roadmap out of the lockdown later this week.

He will show the nation his plans for opening up schools, workplaces and giving the economy a much-needed boost.

Scientific documents released earlier today also revealed:

A lockdown could lead to "community tensions" and the poor will be worst off

Compliance with the lockdown will only stay high if Brits think there is still a high risk, and people still feel able to shield themselves without being too bored, isolated or losing their jobs

They fear that some employers may discriminate on the basis of antibody status in future - and people may try to catch the virus or get hold of a fake test

Experts initially considered a London lockdown but the virus was already spreading quickly in other areas such as the Midlands

The number of confirmed cases of Covid 19 in China at the start of February was estimated to be at least 10 times higher than the number reported

It was "a realistic probability" that there was already sustained transmission in the UK by February 10

Experts recommended Brits be told to stop hugging and shaking hands on the same day that Boris Johnson said he had shaken hands with Covid patients at a hospital

But radical measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in workplaces will be in place for up to a year, The Sun has been told.

Screens between desks, staff sitting back-to-back and a ban on hot desking and sharing of equipment are among moves employers must introduce when lockdown is lifted.

The new measures — proposed in draft documents on a return to workplaces — also require staggered shift times to avoid crowding on public transport.

Handwashing kits must be at entry and exit points, with regular cleaning of worktops. Yellow and black tape will tell people where to stand in lifts.

One-way systems will be the norm in offices and on train platforms and at bus stops.

Face-to-face meetings will only be able to go ahead if absolutely necessary and be time-limited.

Employees will even be told not to share stationary such as pens.

The message to employers is to allow their staff to work from home if they’re not needed in the workplace.

It means home-working will likely become the default for millions of Brits for the foreseeable future.